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Kiser was born in Omaha, Nebraska on August 1, 1939. He attended the University of Kansas, where he received a football scholarship. He graduated in 1962 with a degree in industrial engineering. Returning to Omaha, he worked as an engineer for three years while acting on the side. During these years, Kiser acted as an amateur in more than 50 plays. On the advice of a drama teacher, he made the decision to pursue acting full-time and moved to New York City in 1965. He joined the Actors Studio and worked with Lee Strasberg, the renowned teacher of Method acting.[1]

Kiser's first two years in New York included an array of small parts, ranging from theater to television to commercials. By 1967, Kiser gained significant recognition for his work, winning both an Obie Award and Theater World Award for his portrayal of in "Fortune and Men's Eyes."[2][3]

Kiser is known for starring in Weekend at Bernie's (1989), in the title role of Bernie Lomax, the corrupt insurance executive who is dead for most of the film. Bernie's young employees, played by Jonathan Silverman and Andrew McCarthy, attempt to convince people that Bernie is still alive. He reprised the role in Weekend at Bernie's II (1993). Since 2012, several YouTube videos featuring "The Bernie Dance" generated more than 17 million views collectively by April 2016.

In the early 2010s Kiser began work on "The Accidental President", which led to his participation in the second season of "Johnny Dynamo". That show was followed with Kiser's lead role in the feature "The Body Sculptor" as Dr. Jason Stone. The film is scheduled for completion and release in 2016.

In 2013, Kiser moved to Austin, Texas, where with his partner, actress Joy Leigh, he co-founded an acting school, The Actors Arena. Instruction is open to students of all ages and experience levels.

^Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 278. ISBN0-02-542650-8.